Happy Belated Birthday to WC!

On Saturday we celebrated WC's 7th birthday at a gymnastics party with her buddies. This was our first all-girls party and they had such a great time! (The only boy in attendance was P, who was pretty excited for the girls to chase him around.)

Her actual birthday is January 3, and we just didn't get our act together and get a party scheduled before the holidays happened, and parties in January were filling up quickly and January 26 was the earliest we could get. I think she was a bit disappointed at first, but we did have a family party at our house on the 3rd, and she also got to take cupcakes to school to celebrate there. And I think the idea of stretching out the celebration and getting to have another party later in the month quickly became a fun prospect.

A gymnastics party was a perfect choice since she just starting taking class and is enjoying it so much. Although team sports like soccer just didn't seem to be a good fit for her, an individual sport like gymnastics is working out great. I am so glad we have found the activity that holds her interest!

Concert: Every night!

WC got a Kindle Fire for Christmas, and since she's a music lover like me, it's pretty much always playing something fun and catchy.

And so we're getting treated to a "concert" just about every night. She's drawn herself a little piano and has placed it on a Playdoh desk so she can slide her legs under it. She's also created a microphone using some blue sticky stuff and two crayons. The sparkly hat she got for her birthday is also ever-present.

She also has some carefully planned lighting cues (Mom, when I point at you, turn the lights on!) and lots and lots of dancing.

And I love it!

But we do have to limit the concert lengths because they can go on forever...... we're talking full-length Taylor Swift Fearless tour length, if we let her.

Found

Found WC on the living room floor the other night after bath, fast asleep.

So peaceful. Thanks Melatonin.....

My Little Fancy Nancy

This was WC getting ready to go to the pool the other day. Can you tell we read a lot of Fancy Nancy in our house?

Daddy/Daughter Dance

Saturday night was the local Daddy/Daughter Dance and look how cute/handsome my pair looked!

WD even let me paint her nails and curl the ends of her hair under! I had so much fun getting her ready and she was so excited all day.

I am so glad my little tomboy likes getting dressed up too....

Oh how I wish I was artistic

because WC would love it if I could paint her face like this everyday!

Friday night was Family Bingo night at P's school and they had a face-painting artists there and she was fabulous.

WC and I were sad to wash this off before bed that night!

Halloween

My husband texted me this picture this morning when he took her in for her Halloween party at preschool..... I really really wish I was there. I am having a rough day today and I am not where I want to be right now.

How sweet is my little Buzz Light-ner with her Princess trick-or-treat pail?

Stop Aging Me!

The Wild Child wore me out last week on our family vacay at Silver Dollar City.

She ran from person to person, talking them up and finding out what they were up to.

At one point, she ran up to the broom shop and knocked on the door. A little old man opened the door and said, "Well, hello there, little lady."

WC asked "What's your name?" and he replied "Stan".

Then she said...... wait for it.....

"I'm The Wild Child (really, she said her name) and this is my grandma, Shasha."

WHAT??????

I Am The Proud Borrow of

The Kazdin Method for Parenting the Defiant Child

My bargain ladies assure me that this is the book for me. Since I have a child that is un-punishable (Me: If you don't do what I say, I'll turn the TV off! WC: Fine, I want you to turn it off!) and doesn't quite know her boundaries and how to show respect (Me: Don't you talk to me that way! WC: Don't you talk to ME that way Momma!) it stands to reason that positive reinforcement is the way to go. A part of this equation is that you simply can't contain her (so time-out isn't an option) and she really thinks getting in trouble is quite funny.

Actually, we've already been working on positive reinforcement with her therapist, and we've made great strides. I just want to institute some consistency in our days and hope to have more goods days than bad, so I've been looking for a "method" and I'm hoping this is the one.

So tell me, do you have any experiences with this book? I checked this out from the public library at lunch today and can't wait to dive into it this weekend. I'm planning for a Monday start, because, well, we all know it's just not possible to start anything new on a day other than Monday.

Notes from School: Friday July 31

I am so sorry to tell you this- during art time, WC and her friend took a pair of scissors from the art table and went back by the cubbies. Before we could stop them, the friend cut a piece of hair on the back of WC's head. It is very hard to see the piece that was cut, but we are still so sorry it happened. We put away the scissors for the day and explained that we only cut our art projects.

Looks like WC is headed for a Dorothy Hamil cut. Twice in one week!

Dear Wild Child,

Have I told you today how much I love you?

Have I told you how grateful I am that our mother/daughter relationship is heading towards what I've always wanted it to be?

Have I told you how much it meant to me this weekend when you patted the couch next to where you were sitting and said, "Come snuggle with me!"?

Have I told you that I know there are great things in store for you in life? Your drive (stubborn-ness?) and outgoing personality are going to take you so far. Once a woman stopped us in a restaurant and said, "She's going to be the president of something someday." I'm pretty sure she's right.

I know we've had some challenges and I am so sorry you had to go through the pain you went through as an infant. So sorry I couldn't get the help we needed for you then. I think that led to your sensory and sleeping problems, and if I could turn back time, you can bet I'd do things different.

But I am so glad that we are where we are today. You've led me to learn so much about parenting and how to be the mom I've always wanted my kids to have. I've learned how to ask for help and how to relax just a little. I've learned that sometimes it takes a village and that I don't know everything. I've learned that's there no one book or method that's catch-all. I've learned that each child is an individual and I have found that taking small pieces of different philosophies has been the answer for us.

As I see your personality develop, I feel pride in my soul- we made you! What a sweet little thing you've become! I think you're going to be a little tomboy, but I was pretty excited this weekend when you wanted me to paint your nails. That's my girl!

So if I haven't told you today, I love you. I'm so lucky to be your mom and I can't wait to watch you grow.

Love,

Momma

What?

The other day we were driving down the street and The Wild Child said, "Look, there's one of the Jonas Brothers!"

What? There are no Jonas Brothers here, my dear. And how do you even know who they are? You are 3 1/2!

Damn Disney Channel.

Out of the Mouth of WC

Lately, in the car on the way home from school, the kids have been talking on top of each other trying to monopolize my attention.

Yesterday WC got especially frustrated and said, "Mommy, Bubba is messing up my talking!"

WC Is Time Travelin'

The Wild Child learned the phrase "last night" and now if anything happened in the past, it happened "last night", even if was a month ago.

"We went there last night."
"We did that last night."
"I ate that last night."
"I took off my diaper and slid down the slide last night."
"I took my clothes off and ran around the front yard like a nekkid jaybird last night." (yes you did)

But she got me with a new one yesterday.

I got her milk out of the refrigerator and handed it to her and it must have been an old cup (don't you judge me!) because she said....

"Yuck! That milk is from tomorrow!"

Is Your Child a Pooh, Tigger, or Piglet?

Winnie the Pooh

• More adaptable character. These flexible children generally fall on the middle of the continuum for most temperament traits.
• Their moods are positive and their activity level is moderate.
• They are usually open to meeting new people but may occasionally need support and assistance to feel comfortable. The generally take change in stride.
• Parents and caregivers often find these children easy to care for. The parent of a Pooh may comment that she sleeps well and he can predict when she will want to eat, sleep, and play.
• About 40% of children fall in this category.

Piglet

• More cautious temperament. These are the children we think of as being thoughtful or quiet.
• Usually not comfortable in new situations and will need time and support to transition from one activity, setting, or caregiver to another.
• This child can at times seem to have a somber or serious mood. He or she will probably be slow to warm up to new people and activities.
• About 15% of children fall into this category.

Tigger

• Feisty temperament. These children usually react strongly to change and have a high activity level.
• They can be unpredictable and typically display strong reactions, both negative and positive. You never have to guess how they are feeling. When they are happy, they are joyful; when they are sad, they wail, when they are angry, they scream.
• About 10% of children fall in this category.

The additional 35% of children represent a combination of these types.

This was the information the CDS gave me about different temperaments. The Politician and I are probably a Piglet, with a little Pooh thrown in. Mr. Sasha is all Pooh.

WC is definitely a Tigger!

Off to See the Occupational Therapist

WC has an appointment with an OT today at 10:30. She called me yesterday and thinks she's got some info that will help us out.

The Nuk Massage Brushes are being used in 3 classrooms (toddler, 1 1/2s and 2s) at the school and are a big hit. I've even got parents asking how to get one for home use.

Yay! More later.....